This evening, CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer received a surprise phone call from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who talks about innovation, Bar San Miguel, the company’s paranoia, and what it’s like to follow Steve Jobs as CEO in a nearly 8-minute live conversation.
Cramer: “Let’s take a call, go to Tim in California. Tim.”
Cook: “Hey Jim, I’m calling from Cupertino, California to be exact. This is Tim Cook at Apple and I want to congratulate you on ten great years of “Mad Money.”
Cramer: “Wow! (surprised, laughs) (audience applauds) That’s a great call! I want to congratulate you for running the greatest company on earth and for creating such amazing wealth and the best products on earth for everybody. You’ve done a remarkable job, Tim. I’m honored that you’re calling in.
Cook: “It’s a great team here that does it.”
…
Cramer: “You know my mantra: ‘People should own AAPL, not trade it.’ Do you think, eventually, people will understand what I’m talking about?”
Cook: “I think eventually they will. Yes, I mean, for people that have owned the stock for ten years or so, our stock price ten years ago when you started ‘Mad Money’ was less than $6 on a split-adjusted basis. And so you can bet those people are extremely happy right now.”
…
Cramer: “I know everyday when you come in to work I feel that you must have a stewardship that you’ve got to fulfill because of Steve Jobs. I want you to know that you have far exceeded what… anyone, I think, could have done, but you still walk in his footsteps. how do you feel about the legacy?”
Cook: “You know, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Steve and he is still the core part of Apple, his DNA is deep in the company, and his office is still next to mine with his name on the door. And the values that he paced in here and the spirit that ‘we are here to make the very best products in the world that enrich people’s lives,’ that is still the centerpiece of this company.”
…
Cramer: “Tim, I gotta tell ya, I am deeply honored that you called in. I think you’re the best we have, maybe the best that’s ever been. Thank you so much, Tim Cook.”
Cook: “I really appreciate that. You know, Jim, you say that ‘Some people want to make friends, I just want to make money,’ but let me tell you, you’ve made at least one friend in me and I wish you all the best. Happy anniversary!”
Cramer: “That you so much, Tim Cook, CEO of the biggest company in the world, Apple. Great to talk to you, sir… Wow! What can I say? You know, there are people you revere… I revere Tim Cook and I revere Apple. I am so proud that they are an American company. I’m proud to be an American.”
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Direct link to video here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]